The 'Other' America: How Seattle's Elite Feared the 'Unassimilable' Masses

WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 — The bill reported to the Fort Committee before Congress today forbids the admission into the United States of immigrants who are insane, paupers, or who have been legally convicted of a felony or other infamous crime or offense involving moral turpitude, or who are polygamists, anarchists, or socialists, or afflicted with any loathsome disease. It also presides that all alien laborers, whether than those excepted by the contract labor law, shall not be admitted to enter a limited time with the intention of returning.

The secretary of the treasury is charged with the duty of keeping records. The bill takes full jurisdiction in the United States district and circuit courts in all cases arising under the act, which takes effect July 1.

A memorandum accompanying the five details of the investigation of the committee at various places and the conclusions reached, among other things, the report says: "As no inspection is made of immigrants at the border between Canada and the United States, a large number of alien persons and others unlawfully entitled to enter come into the United States by this way." The number during the six months having arrived in Canada are shipped to the United states of America, and they persist in that course after having been requested by your government to discontinue it.

Of the Labor laws, the report says it is easily made to a large extent in the spirit, while the letter is usually observed. Chinese Immigration was not investigated for lack of time.

On the subject of immigration generally, the committee, after speaking favorably of its benefits in the past, says from the industry they have made they believe the time has now come to draw the line, to select the good from the bad and to sip the wheat from the chaff. To any person familiar with the results of the investigation it must be apparent that the temporary crowd cannot properly assimilate the immigration now coming to our shores.

The report condemns the practice which has prevailed among certain foreigners resident in this country of importing agents for the purpose of contracting them on railroad works and keeping them in a state of almost absolute slavery. In conclusion, the committee says: 'Certainly the effect of the present unrestricted system of immigration, as applicable to the conditions under which the industrial situation of this country has been very bad. The committee believes the time has come when an immigration tax should be made and more effectively regulated; that persons who immigrate to the United States should at least be those who in good faith desire to become its citizens and are worthy to be such.'

Some does not agree with the majority. In a minority report he states that he is opposed to a head tax of more than $1 from immigrants. He says the minority is prepared to go today in advocacy of a proper measure in order to shut out paupers, lunatics, idiots, criminals and thieves, as well as all evil doers who come here to practice their wicked acts and fill our poor houses and prisons, but declares unqualified opposition to the passing of any law that will in any way or stop the influx of honest immigration.

The report is severe on anarchists and like agitation. It says in part: 'These disorderly people do not come here to uphold and maintain our form of government. Their object and purpose is to destroy and tear it down.'